Neurologic

03/06/2023

It is with bittersweet sentiment to state that Neurologic is ending. I am thankful to have you as an audience - whether you listened to one episode or all of them, it mattered to me.

While Neurologic won't be producing any content past August, there are future plans in the works to make something new. If you'd like to be kept informed, you can add your email to our list here: https://forms.gle/XgXcBnrj551yxYR69
I won't bombard you with messages, and I won't sell, share, nor distribute your information with anyone else.

I feel that it's time to move on, to create something new, to learn from those five years of researching, writing, and recording. I hope that I can share more with you in the coming years...new voices, new topics, new perspectives. I endeavor to make that happen sooner rather than later.

Neurologic will be completing its final episode in August of 2023. Until then, you can find and download all episodes at https://neurologic.libsyn.com/site

If you have questions/comments/concerns/quips, you can reach me at neurologicpodcast @ gmail.com.

Thank you so much for listening, and I hope that you've enjoyed what was created.

If you are here, you've likely found out that my podcast, Neurologic, is ending. I am thankful to have you as an audience - whether you listened to one episode or all of them, it mattered to me. But now it's time to move on, to create something new, to learn from those five years of researching, wri...

08/04/2023

03/04/2023

We've ALWAYS been here - it's just been in the past half-century that we've been pathologized, stigmatized and demonized, scrutinized beyond social norms, and viewed as tragedy.

29/03/2023

Two different panels, a shared title, and one massive failure of inclusion.

If your event is holding two panels entitled 'Listen to the Spectrum' - and by 'spectrum' you mean autistics (i.e. those diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder) - BOTH panels should contain autistics.

Only one panel shown here does; however, the one without any autistics comes with the added descriptor 'Understanding Profound Autism'. It further states that these non-autistic "[p]anelists will share examples of what you think your loved one would say if they could communicate in words."

"if they could communicate in words."

They mean spoken, verbalized speech, if you weren't following.

No room for non-speaking autistics who sign, who use AAC, who type words to communicate. Instead, others have been chosen to "guess" what they would say if they were invited onto this panel.

Autistics who use spoken words aren't silencing non-speaking autistics; deliberate, divisive actions like this definitely do.

[Not including the group nor the event name on purpose, and no, I'm not going to contact them - this isn't a mistake or an error, this was done purposefully and with conscious intent.

It's fine if you want to have a caregiver/loved one panel, but having neurotypicals promoted as the voice of those who don't use spoken word speech is a form of bigotry no other minority would tolerate.]

27/03/2023

08/02/2023

My issue with compliance-based methods.

You have assumed that my kid has made an intentional choice to not do the thing. You have assumed that they are entirely capable of doing the thing in this moment, but they have chosen not to. Based on this reasoning, all my kid needs is more rewards offered and more consequences given. Then they will learn to make the ‘right choice’, and just do the thing.

This is so incorrect.
As Dr Ross Greene says, kids do well if they can.

My kid WILL do the thing WHEN HE CAN.

When he doesn’t, it’s probably because he’s too dysregulated.
It’s probably because he has absolutely no mental energy left.
It could be because he’s had to mask hard all day and he’s got nothing left to give.
It could be because he can’t access his executive function skills in this moment.
It could be because he’s not ok inside.
It could be because he is too sad.
It could be because he is a perfectionist and doesn’t think he can do the thing perfectly right this minute.
It could be because his head is pounding from massive sensory overload.
It could be anxiety.
It could be because he has learnt that mistakes are punished here.
It could be that he is minutes away from shutting down.

It could be all these things.
When my kid doesn’t do the thing, it is because he can’t- not because he won’t.

Do not make the mistake of thinking that my kid just isn’t trying hard enough.

He tries so much harder than you will ever know.

Em 🌈
AuDHD SLP

23/01/2023

Saw a box of skincare facial masks - called "Seven Days of Masking" - advertised on a discount site and the first thing I thought was: if that isn't a perfect memoir title, I don't know what is... 😆

So, being me... of course I had to parody the product and brand it appropriately for y'all.

[Image Description - Photograph of a box of skincare facial masks. The box is a silver holographic print including a multitude of stars and dots in varying shades of white, grey, and black.

At the top of the box are four circular photos of femme-presenting models wearing skincare face masks.

The first model is wearing a yellow mask and making a kissy-face, with widened eyes staring intensely at the viewer, with their chin resting on their hands. In capitalized black sans-serif font, a caption reads: "forces eye contact"

The second model is wearing a pale green mask and their eyes are closed or squinted, while their mouth is open wide, as if laughing. Their hands are at each side of their chin, outstretched and palms up. In capitalized black sans-serif font, a caption reads: "mirrors expressions"

The third model is wearing a red mask and is smiling with their mouth slightly open. One hand is at the side of their chin, outstretched and palm up. In capitalized black sans-serif font, a caption reads: "rehearsed responses"

The fourth model is wearing a pale pink mask and is smiling what appears to be a forced smile, showing teeth, with a tense face. In capitalized black sans-serif font, a caption reads: "supresses stims"

In the center of the box, a thin black outline forms a square around text. In large, black, capitalized sans-serif font, text reads: "seven days of masking". Underneath that, smaller black, sans-serif font, text reads: "Seven autistic masks to fake & hide your traits for a socially acceptable & allistic appearance".

Under the box are three more circular photos of femme-presenting models wearing skincare face masks.

The first model is wearing a grey mask, looking downward, and has their mouth open while showing their teeth, possibly smiling or laughing. Their hands are at each side of their chin, outstretched and palms up with fingers curved so the fingertips are pointed upward. In capitalized white sans-serif font, a caption reads: "mimics gestures"

The second model is wearing a white mask and has a slight smile, looking content or relaxed. Their hands are folded underneath their chin. In capitalized white sans-serif font, a caption reads: "pushes through intense sensory discomfort"

The third model is wearing a black mask and has a look of concern or discomfort on their face. Their hands are held up to the sides of their face, with index fingers pressed into their temples. In capitalized white sans-serif font, a caption reads: "minimizes enthusiasm for interests"

Next to the third model on the bottom of the box is the Giraffe Party logo; a vectored graphic of a giraffe's face. The giraffe has a serene look on its face and is wearing large black-rimmed glasses. It is also wearing a teal striped lampshade on its head and holding a tasseled party horn in its mouth. The words "Giraffe Party" are printed in purple font on the lampshade.]

06/12/2022

03/08/2022

🤔🤔🤔

29/07/2022

07/07/2022

Since the news of Spectrum 10K came out, the Autistic community have been fighting to stop it. This study is dangerous, harmful and does not help Autistic people in any way. Instead, it could end up being a means to try and "cure" us if in the wrong hands. We managed to pause it for a little while but now it is back up and running and so we must spread the word to other Autistics about the dangers of the study and why we must stop it and not sign up to be Simon Baron-Cohen's lab rats.

For more information on the study, the protest against it and discussions by people then check out the Boycott Spectrum 10K page https://www.facebook.com/boycottspectrum10k

16/06/2022

PFL is not a personal choice, especially when parents ignore and refuse to fully educate their children on its history - as well as the evolution of identity-first language has grown - nor give their child an actual, informed, and non-biased choice.